Jan 29, 2020 - World

Pentagon: 50 U.S. troops diagnosed with brain injuries from Iran attack

Rebecca Falconer

Damage at Ain al-Asad military airbase housing US and other foreign troops in the western Iraqi province of Anbar. — Damage on Jan 13. sustained in Iran's attack of Ain al-Asad military air base, which houses U.S. troops in the western Iraqi province of Anbar. Photo: Ayman Henna/AFP via Getty Images

The Pentagon revised the number of U.S. service members diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) following Iran's Jan 7. attack on U.S. bases in Iraq to 50 on Tuesday.

The big picture: This is the third time the Pentagon has updated the figures for those injured in the attack. Per the CDC, TBIs are not always detected immediately after they've been sustained.

This is a snapshot in time and numbers can change."

— Pentagon spokesperson Thomas Campbell

Flashback: On Jan. 17, the Defense Department said 11 troops were "evacuated from Iraq with concussion-like symptoms," AP notes.

The Defense Department said last Friday 34 troops had sustained traumatic brain injuries.

What they're saying: 31 of the 50 service members injured were treated in Iraq and returned to duty, "including 15 of the additional service members who have been diagnosed since the previous report," Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Thomas Campbell said in a statement.

"18 service members have been transported to Germany for further evaluation and treatment. This is an increase of one service member from the previous report. As previously reported, one service member had been transported to Kuwait and has since returned to duty."

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Pentagon: 50 U.S. troops diagnosed with brain injuries from Iran attack

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